One prominent NFL insider believes Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy could face some new challenges to keeping his starting job.

As the Vikings sit at 4-5, last in the NFC North, their star receiver wants to recapture his youthful energy while their 22-year-old quarterback looks to scrub some blemishes out of his game.

Is it too early for an NFL mock draft? Sure, but the idea of building out mock drafts right now is to show who might be available at certain spots and good fits for the Minnesota Vikings. It's always good to do these regularly leading up to the NFL Draft to expose players to the fanbase,

McCarthy needs to make strides in the second half of the season, but the Vikings aren't worried about his slow start.

Smith, in his 14th Vikings season, will join the likes of Jim Marshall, Mick Tingelhoff and Carl Eller, among others, on Sunday against the Bears.

Vikings offense: overall (24), rush (24), pass (22), scoring (22). Vikings defense: overall (12), rush (22), pass (9), scoring (14).

Strength of victory — the combined winning percentage of all the teams a team has beaten — might not mean much on its own, but it gives a sense of how a team like the Vikings, despite its 4-5 record, has an ability to take down teams with good records.